Two radio DJs have admitted a mother’s homophobic response to a party invitation they posted on Facebook was a hoax.

Steve Harper and Leeana Karlson, who work for K-98.3, in Long Island, New York, made up a note that said a woman would not be letting her son Tommy to go to his friend Sophia’s party because her parents were a gay couple.

The note drew strong criticism on the station’s Facebook page when it was originally posted on Wednesday, with people shocked by the woman’s bigotry.

The DJs even claimed the mother, Beth, had left a phone number and was actively encouraging people to call her, which they did.

Harper and Karlson have now admitted they made the whole thing up, releasing an apology on the radio station’s official website.

They wrote: ‘This story (homophobic RSVP) was, in fact, totally fictitious, and created by the two of us. This was done without the knowledge of K-98.3 management or ownership.

‘We were attempting to spur a healthy discourse on a highly passionate topic, but we made a mistake by misleading our listeners into thinking that this specific situation actually existed.

‘We are very sorry that we perpetuated this falsehood, even after it was clear that it had taken on a “life of its own”. We deeply apologise for violating your trust, and we will work hard to regain that trust.’

K-98.3 has not revealed what disciplinary action it will take against the DJs, if any.